Date of use : 1963, Germany

Dacora Kamerawerk Business Postcard from Germany

This document represents a camera repair intake card issued in 1963 by DACORA Kamerawerk, a camera manufacturer located in Reutlingen, Germany. The printed text confirms that a photographic camera had been received by the factory for technical inspection and possible repair. Such documents illustrate the practical relationship between camera manufacturers and retail photographic dealers within the service infrastructure of the photographic industry.

The upper section of the card contains the red printed slogan "In jeder Hand zu jeder Zeit ist die Dacora schussbereit." Translated into English, the phrase means "In every hand, at any time, a Dacora is ready to shoot." This statement functioned as an advertising slogan emphasizing the reliability and accessibility of the company's cameras. Marketing expressions of this kind were commonly used during the 1950s and 1960s, a period when consumer photography was expanding rapidly.

The sender identified on the card is DACORA Kamerawerk, a company established by Dangelmaier & Co. in Reutlingen, located in the German region of Baden-Württemberg. The DACORA brand became widely known in Europe during the 1950s and 1960s for producing affordable cameras designed primarily for amateur photographers. The company's products were generally characterized by straightforward mechanical construction and ease of use.

The camera model referenced in the document appears to be the "Dacora Dignette grau." The Dignette series formed part of DACORA's line of mid-range amateur cameras. These cameras typically used 35 mm film and represented a widely accessible format within the consumer photographic market of the period. The card also records the date of receipt and a service reference number assigned to the device upon arrival at the factory.

The recipient of the document is listed as "Foto Oehling," a photographic retail business located in the German city of Mainz. During the mid-twentieth century, photographic shops served multiple functions within the industry. In addition to selling cameras and photographic materials, they provided film processing services and acted as intermediaries between customers and manufacturers for repair and maintenance work.

The printed message confirms that the camera had been received for inspection or repair. It also states that if the cost of the repair exceeded a specified amount, the customer would receive a preliminary estimate before the work was carried out. This procedure reflects the service policies used by many camera manufacturers to ensure transparency in repair transactions.

The postal marking and printed postage indicate that the document was processed through the West German postal system operated by Deutsche Bundespost. The term "Drucksache" printed on the card refers to a category of postal mail used for printed matter. This classification allowed businesses to send commercial printed documents at reduced postal rates, making it a common method for routine correspondence.

The 1960s represent a period in which photography became increasingly widespread among amateur users. The popularity of portable 35 mm cameras expanded the consumer market and encouraged manufacturers to develop extensive service networks. Photographic retailers played a central role in this system by connecting camera owners with factory repair facilities.

From a collecting perspective, documents of this kind belong to the category of photographic industry ephemera. Factory repair records, service confirmations, and technical correspondence provide valuable insights into the everyday functioning of the photographic equipment industry. When such documents include specific camera models and service details, they become particularly significant as historical sources.

Record Information

Title: Dacora Kamerawerk Business Postcard from Germany

Category: Photographic Industry History / Camera Manufacturing

Subcategory: Equipment Servicing / Retail Intermediaries

Country: West Germany

City: Reutlingen (Sender) → Mainz (Recipient)

Date of use: 1963

Company (Sender): DACORA Kamerawerk, Dangelmaier & Co., Reutlingen, West Germany. A German camera manufacturer active in the 1950s and 1960s, known for producing affordable cameras for amateur photographers, including the Dignette series.

Company (Recipient): Foto Oehling, Mainz, West Germany. A photographic retail business serving as an intermediary between customers and manufacturers for camera sales, film processing, and repair services.

Object Type: Domestic commercial service receipt postcard with printed advertising

Postal Features: Deutsche Bundespost postal marking; "Drucksache" printed matter classification; Reutlingen postal cancellation.

Language: German

Material: Paper postcard

Dimensions: Standard postcard format

Notable Feature: Red advertising slogan "In jeder Hand zu jeder Zeit ist die Dacora schussbereit"; camera model "Dacora Dignette grau"; service receipt format with repair intake confirmation; "Drucksache" postal classification.

Collection Theme: DACORA Kamerawerk, Reutlingen camera industry, Dignette camera, German camera manufacturing, Foto Oehling, Mainz, camera repair, service infrastructure, amateur photography, Deutsche Bundespost, Drucksache.

Archival Significance: This 1963 repair intake card documents the service infrastructure of the German camera industry, illustrating the relationship between manufacturers and retail dealers in supporting amateur photographers.

Research Note:

This article is based on historical research and independent analysis of the material in the author's collection. The text has been prepared as an original interpretative study and does not reproduce copyrighted material.

This item is documented as part of the Photography in Postal History research project.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.

Date of use : 17 January 1961, Germany

Dacora Kamerawerk Postcard – German Camera Maker

The widespread use of photographic technology during the mid-twentieth century depended not only on the production of cameras but also on the establishment of extensive maintenance and repair networks. Photographic cameras were complex mechanical devices that required periodic servicing and occasional repair. For this reason manufacturers and distributors developed technical service systems designed to support long-term use of their equipment. This card sent by Dacora Kamerawerk in Reutlingen represents a documentary example of how such service networks functioned.

The printed letterhead at the bottom of the card reads "Dacora Kamerawerk – Dangelmaier & Co – Reutlingen." Dacora was a German camera manufacturer active in the decades following the Second World War. The company became known particularly during the 1950s and 1960s for producing compact cameras intended for amateur photographers. Dacora marketed cameras under its own brand name as well as through various commercial labels, reaching a broad consumer market across Europe.

At the top of the card appears the advertising slogan "In jeder Hand – zu jeder Zeit ist die Dacora schussbereit," which may be translated as "In every hand, at any time, the Dacora is ready to shoot." This phrase reflects a common marketing strategy emphasizing convenience, portability, and reliability as key features of consumer cameras.

The main body of the document functions as a service receipt acknowledging the arrival of a camera for inspection or repair. The heading "Kamera-Reparatur-Eingangsbestätigung" indicates confirmation of receipt for repair service. The text specifies a camera model identified as "Dac. Digna I," which corresponds to a model produced by Dacora. The document also includes a reference number that likely served as a service or tracking number within the company's repair system. The message informs the recipient that the camera will undergo careful examination and that it will be returned as quickly as possible after inspection or repair. If repair costs exceed a certain amount, the customer would receive an estimate before further work is carried out.

The address section identifies the recipient as "Foto-Oehling," a business located in Mainz on Schillerstraße. This company likely operated as a photographic retailer or distributor. The fact that the card was sent to a photographic shop suggests that the camera may have been forwarded to the manufacturer through a retail dealer rather than directly by the individual user. Such arrangements were common, as photographic equipment sales and service were often organized through networks of local retail stores.

The card also displays a mechanical franking mark bearing the inscription "Deutsche Bundespost," the postal authority of West Germany. Mechanical franking systems were widely used by businesses that handled large volumes of correspondence. A circular postal cancellation from Reutlingen dated 17 January 1961 confirms the time of dispatch. The printed designation "Drucksache" indicates that the item was mailed under a special postal category used for printed commercial documents.

From a collecting perspective the card belongs to several thematic categories. It represents commercial correspondence documenting the maintenance and repair infrastructure associated with the photographic industry. Because it carries the corporate letterhead of a camera manufacturer, it is also relevant to collections related to photographic technology and camera production. The mechanical franking mark and the "Drucksache" postal category additionally provide points of interest for postal history research.

When considered within a broader historical context, the document illustrates that the photographic industry depended not only on production and distribution but also on technical service systems supporting long-term use of photographic equipment. The card sent from Dacora Kamerawerk in Reutlingen therefore represents a small yet meaningful historical record reflecting the commercial and technical infrastructure that supported photography during the mid-twentieth century.

Record Information

Title: Dacora Kamerawerk Postcard – German Camera Maker

Category: Photographic Industry History / Camera Manufacturing

Subcategory: Technical Service / Repair Infrastructure

Country: Germany

City: Reutlingen (Sender) → Mainz (Recipient)

Date of use: 17 January 1961

Company (Sender): Dacora Kamerawerk – Dangelmaier & Co., Reutlingen, Germany. A German camera manufacturer active in the 1950s and 1960s, producing compact cameras for amateur photographers.

Company (Recipient): Foto-Oehling, Schillerstraße, Mainz, Germany. A photographic retailer or distributor acting as an intermediary for camera repair services.

Object Type: Commercial service receipt postcard (Kamera-Reparatur-Eingangsbestätigung)

Postal Features: Mechanical franking mark "Deutsche Bundespost"; Reutlingen circular postal cancellation (17 January 1961); "Drucksache" printed designation for printed matter postal rate.

Language: German

Material: Paper postcard

Dimensions: Standard postcard format

Notable Feature: Advertising slogan "In jeder Hand – zu jeder Zeit ist die Dacora schussbereit"; camera model "Dac. Digna I" listed for repair; "Kamera-Reparatur-Eingangsbestätigung" service receipt format.

Collection Theme: Dacora Kamerawerk, Dangelmaier & Co., Reutlingen, German camera industry, Digna I, camera repair, Foto-Oehling, Mainz, Deutsche Bundespost, Drucksache, mechanical franking, photographic service networks, amateur photography.

Archival Significance: This 1961 repair receipt documents the service infrastructure of the German camera industry, illustrating how manufacturers supported long-term use of photographic equipment through postal communication with retail dealers.

Research Note:

This article is based on historical research and independent analysis of the material in the author's collection. The text has been prepared as an original interpretative study and does not reproduce copyrighted material.

This item is documented as part of the Photography in Postal History research project.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.